By Jon Geddes; Image: Ric McLellan

AN old Randwick ballboy who went on to become a club great made a winning return to his beloved club on Saturday.

New first grade coach Stephen Hoiles saw the Galloping Greens hold on to defeat Warringah 22-15 in the first round of the Shute Shield at Rat Park.

But the former Wallabies, Brumbies and Waratahs backrower faced some anxious moments as Warringah launched a rear-guard action after the fulltime siren in a desperate bid to snatch a draw at the death.

“I just said if we do that every week I won’t last the season, that was a nerve-racking game,” Hoiles revealed after addressing his players following their first-up victory.

“It was everything you expect in a tough competition, this is traditionally one of the harder away games. It was probably good it rained early and kept a few of the local fans away – they are pretty good at distracting you.”

Getting Hoiles on board as coach has been a perfect fit for Randwick after starting his association with the club as ballboy, who would toss the pill to legendary Wallabies’ skipper and Greens’ legend Phil Kearns at Coogee Oval.

“Rubbing dirt on the ball for the opposition lineout thrower and cleaning it for Kearnsy and the guys,” he admitted with a smile.

In a distinguished career wearing the myrtle green jumper Hoiles went on to play over 100 first grade games, was a captain and a member of the last Randwick premiership side in 2004.

THE COACHING JOURNEY  

SINCE retiring as a player in 2017 Hoiles has built up an impressive coaching resume.

He spent several years as assistant coach of the Australian Men’s Sevens team and most recently honed his skills at the LA Giltinis in American Major League Rugby, firstly as assistant to current Waratahs coach Darren Coleman, and more recently as their head coach.

“We loved our time in America, but probably with the age of my kids it was time to come home and then this (coaching Randwick) became an opportunity,” he said. “Once I saw it advertised I thought ‘I would love to do that’, it was as simple as that. It is the only club I have ever played at.”

PLAYING TOUGH

While Saturday’s premiership opener was more grit than glamour, Hoiles saw positives in Randwick’s first-up performance.

He was happy the way the team was able to turn around their scrum and lineout which did not start well after the Rats received five scrum penalties in the first half.

“I thought we were pretty persistent and resilient, so I was happy with the boys’ toughness,” Hoiles said.

The effort was illustrated by prop Hunter Stewart, whose performance impressed his new coach.

“He played a full game … he started at tighthead, went to loosehead,” he said.  “Any prop who plays 80 minutes in this day and age and goes both sides is really good.”

He was also pleased with the involvement of Irish lock recruit Cormac Daly.

Randwick face another big test on Friday when they travel to Newcastle to take on the Hunter Wildfires, who defeated Manly 27-19 in their first game.

 A DIFFERENT COMPETITION

FOLLOWING his time away, Hoiles was able to observe the changes in the competition over the past five or six seasons.

“I don’t think there is an easy game in the Shute Shield, that is probably the one big difference I have noticed since being away,” he said.

“It is younger and there seems to be a few more overseas players through every team.

 “I think the standard of footy is still really good.”